California Biographies
Source:
History of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties, California
by: C M Gidney - Santa Barbara. Benjamin Brooks - San Luis Obispo.
Edwin M Sheridan - Ventura
Volumes II - Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, ILL., 1917
This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm
RANDAL GORDON BABER. A skilful and prosperous agriculturist of Santa Barbara County,
Randal Gordon Baber is busily and profitably engaged in the growing of walnuts on his well
improved ranch, which is pleasantly located not far from the village of Goleta. A son of the late
Randal Baber, he was born May 19, 1858, in Missouri.
Randal Baber was born in Kentucky and spent his early life in the Middle West. About 1859 he
came with his family to California in search of a favorable opportunity of increasing his
financial resources, and having purchased a tract of land in the Santa Rosa Valley was there
engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death, in 1882. He was of Revolutionary stock, and
while in California was quite active in public affairs, serving for several years as justice of the
peace. His wife, whose maiden name was Louise E. Hampton, died when her son Randal was a
small child. She was born in South Carolina, and belonged to a family of considerable
importance, having been a niece of Wade Hampton who served as an officer in both the
Revolutionary war and the War of 1812.
Randal Gordon Baber was educated in the public schools of Sonoma County, living there until
eighteen years of age. Migrating then to Nevada, he settled in Humboldt County, where for
fifteen years he was successfully engaged in the cattle business. In 1891 Mr. Baber came back
to California, and having secured his present ranch of ten and a half acres near Goleta has
since devoted his time and labor to the raising of walnuts, as above mentioned.
Mr. Baber married Miss Ella M. Kellogg, a daughter of Philander Kellogg, and a niece of Frank
E. Kellogg, who for many years served as secretary of the Santa Barbara Chamber of
Commerce, and was an active member of the Walnut Growers' Association. Mrs. Baber died at
the birth of their only child, a daughter who was named Ella May in memory of her mother.
Mr. Baber is a democrat in politics, and as a man and a citizen stands high in the esteem of the
community.